Vehicle-wheel.



oo- 0 9 1 Qw 2 m U. J D T N .E T A P 1 N A Y R B L 9m l .9 0 0 0- 1 VEHICLE WH BEL. APPLICATION FILED e221. 0, 1907.

V ATTORNEY,

* WITNESSES:

LEE W. BR ANT OF 'sr. Lonrs itfissolrisrw ma na e.-

' J ,-Specification-ofLetters tar TOT ail when may, coficermt I l Be it known. that =1, Lnn Wi Baranrr,

; citizenof the United .,States,; ;residmg at St clear,.fand exact diescription, reference beinghad to the-accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

" My invention has-relation gtoyimproveg and it consists m the'novel constructron'of wheel more fully ments in vehicle wheels set forth in the specification in the claims.

In the drawings, tion of a portion of a wheel showing my in vcntion applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a limited seoti on of a wheel showing the yielding springs in normal and compressed position; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. a is a sectionaldetail of the outer end of the spoke and thimble and buffer carried thereby.

The object of my invention is to provide a wheel which can take the place of the prevailing form of inflated-tire wheel, the improvement being adapted for light and heavy vehicles.

A further object of the invention is, while dispensing with the inflated-tire, to substitute a cushioning device which shall be disposed as nearly as possible along the outer rim of the wheel so that its eii'ects shall resemble as nearly as possible those of the inflated tire.

Afurther object is to provide a cushioning device which can be readily repaired in the event that any portion thereof is out of or der or becomes broken. f

The invention possesses further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description thereof which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, ll, represents the hub of the Wheel and S, the spokes thereof. The outer ends of the spokes terminate in thimbles 1 tipped with rubber bull'err- 2. Disposed. on opposite faces of the wheel and secured to and embracing the spokes at their ends are circular bandsS, 3, a pin or screw 4 serving at the same time to secure the thimbles-l. The buffers 2 project beyond the outer circle of the bands 3. Encompassing the spokes, and spaced at suitable distance from the bands 3 is the rim 5, the sameserving to carry the tire 6 which is preferably of i September 6,

I 1 1 solid and pointed out Figure 1 is a face elevaseat-1 9.

I er thoughl 51am not limitedcompositionofgthetire. 1; A Spanning the,sipace lmtw em theybarnls on opposite sides' screwsj which ser e-case,anclfors for th, e13 -minals of the flexed or bowed springsfi,the springs being substantially Uf-,$ll tPQ(;l and having inwardly folded terminals. 8f,- di;

springs, (preferably of double tligickne'ssar on; the inner edge;of the-rinifi, and are; on j nected thereto byclips?) whicheinb-racethe sides of, the: rim, their free. ends being bent inwa dlyyagain ta the fa e the rim and referalily countersunk so as to beflush witi the opposite faces thereof. The base of each clip is equip )ed with a buffer tip 10 which is radially in lme with the tip 2, the buffers being convexed outwardly so as to impinge virtually along a point or line of contact in the event they come together for an abnormal compression of the springs 8 under a heavy load, or in case of a sudden jar. In the turning of the vehicle around a corner or in making a curve, or in the event it is suddenly deflected from a direct course of travel, the springs 8 will naturally yield laterally more or less. This yielding will naturally manifest itself to the high- 1 est degree with the springs at the bottom of the wheel, and were it not for the bands 3, this lateral deflection would be still more emphasized, and perhaps to to affect the connection between the s )rmgs and the anchor pins or screws 7. The ands 3 therefore prevent undue lateral displacement of the parts, so that the center line of the rim will practically remain in the general plane of rotation of the wheel, this plane of course assing centrally between the inner faces 0' the bands 3. The latter, too, pre serve the springs from injury by objects with which the wheel may come in contact.

In the event of the breaking of any spring, the same may be readily renewed by the re moval of the pinsor screws, and anew spring substituted in a few moments. The springs being coupled directly to the rim, their cushioning ell'ect is on the order of an inflated tire commonly in use. The springs 8, while havby the outer ends of the spokes, certain portions of the springs extend mteriorly to said circle, this arrangement lnsuring the desired rected toward the spokes. .-.-The.bases of the eachfspoke are'plns or ing their ends secured along a circle defined rim and having their arms passed etween the-bands on op osite sides of the spokes then bent inwar y towards the spokes and secured with their ends to said bands, substantially as set forth. t

2. In combination with a wheel having a,

series of spokes, a rim encompassing" the wheel and spaced a suitable distance from the ends of the spokes, circular bands secured to the o posite faces of the spokes at the ends oft e spokes, U-shaped springs having their bases engagin the inner .edges of the rim, anddisposed between the bands,'the ends of thesp'rings being secured between the bands on opposite sides of the spokes, and

having portions extendin circle defined by the ban s,

set forth.

. 3. In combination with'a wheel having a interiorlyto the substantially as series of spokes a rim encompassing the wheel and spaced a suitable distance from the ends of the spokes, circular bands disposed on opposite sides .of the spokes at the ends thereof, U-shaped springs bearing against the rim and confined between the bands and pro- 'ecting a suitable distance interiorly of the ands, terminal arms on the springs turned toward the spokes and having their ends secured between the bands on opposite sides of the spokes, clips securin the springs to the rim, and bufl'ers on the 0 'ps and spoke-ends res actively, the parts operating substanti y as, and for the pur ose set forth.

In testimony whereof afiix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

v W; BRYANT.

' Witnesses: I

EMIL STAREK, Jos. A. MICHEL. 

